---
title: "Retired Engineer Finds New Purpose Serving Hospice | Sutter Health"
description: "Ed Roman, a retired electrical engineer, refurbishes bicycles and wheelchairs at a Sutter Care at Home hospice thrift store in Roseville, California."
url: "https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice"
---

1.  [Home](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/) /
2.  [Community impact](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact) /
3.  Retired Engineer Switches Gears To Support Those In Hospice

# Retired Engineer Switches Gears to Support Those in Hospice

Ed Roman, a retired electrical engineer, refurbishes bicycles and wheelchairs at a Sutter Care at Home hospice thrift store in Roseville, California.

April 24, 2025 by Alane Masui

![Retired Engineer Switches Gears to Support Those in Hospice](https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/community-impact/Ed-Roman-2-scaled-7197ea31.jpg?h=1440&iar=0&w=2560 "Retired Engineer Switches Gears to Support Those in Hospice")

In the bike repair shop where he volunteers, Ed Roman displays his favorite quote from Saint Francis of Assisi:

“He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands and his head and his heart is an artist.”

The former electrical engineer of 43 years and long-distance bicyclist has found a unique way to combine his passions in retirement. They also have helped make a difference in his community.

> **Get Involved**
> 
> Donate, shop or volunteer at one of [Sutter Care at Home’s three hospice thrift stores](https://www.sutterhealth.org/giving/giving-opportunities/thrift-stores) to help support thousands of patients and their families who receive home health, hospice and bereavement services.
> 
> **Roseville** 212 Harding Blvd. 916-783-5509
> 
> **Santa Rosa** 3209 Cleveland Ave. 707-523-1775
> 
> **Sebastopol** 748 Gravenstein Highway North 707-824-4712

Roman is one of the many dedicated volunteers at Sutter Care at Home’s hospice thrift stores. The stores help support home health, hospice and bereavement services across Northern California.

Roman’s engineering feats are visible throughout the Roseville thrift store. He has built shelving units, fixed plumbing and light fixtures and made various facility improvements using his expertise.

But most of his volunteer time is spent repairing and refurbishing donated bicycles, walkers and wheelchairs, giving them new life for future users. Over the past 15 years, he has refurbished 416 bicycles.

But what is probably most evident at the shop is Roman’s humble nature. “I want to give back to the community,” he says. “I’m just glad I can help.”

## Topics

[Caregiving and end of life](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/search?facets=%5B%7B%22i%22%3A%22c_healthTopics.name%22%2C%22v%22%3A%5B%22Caregiving+and+end+of+life%22%5D%7D%5D&verticalKey=articles)

## Home health and hospice care

Your care should continue wherever you feel most comfortable. If you're recovering from illness or facing a serious diagnosis, our home health and hospice teams can provide medical care, comfort and support at home.

[Learn more about Home health and hospice care](https://www.sutterhealth.org/services/home-health-hospice-care)

## Related articles

### [Finding Solid Ground Through Serious Illness](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/finding-solid-ground-through-serious-illness)

### [Hospice Program Leaves Lasting Impression on Sacramento Couple](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/patient-stories/hospice-program-leaves-lasting-impression-on-sacramento-couple)

[See all from Community impact](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact)

## Check your Vitals

Get the latest in health innovation, community impact and patient care from Sutter Health — delivered straight to your inbox.

[Subscribe to Vitals](https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/subscribe)

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"WebPage","name":"Retired Engineer Finds New Purpose Serving Hospice","description":"Ed Roman, a retired electrical engineer, refurbishes bicycles and wheelchairs at a Sutter Care at Home hospice thrift store in Roseville, California.","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice#breadcrumblist"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Article","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice#article","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice","headline":"Retired Engineer Finds New Purpose Serving Hospice","description":"Ed Roman, a retired electrical engineer, refurbishes bicycles and wheelchairs at a Sutter Care at Home hospice thrift store in Roseville, California.","articleSection":"Community impact","inLanguage":"en-US","datePublished":"2025-04-24T08:22:54-07:00","dateModified":"2026-09-14T15:12:11-07:00","author":[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","name":"Alane Masui"}],"publisher":{"@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org"},"abstract":"Ed Roman, a retired electrical engineer, refurbishes bicycles and wheelchairs at a Sutter Care at Home hospice thrift store in Roseville, California.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/community-impact/Ed-Roman-2-scaled-7197ea31.jpg?h=1440&iar=0&w=2560","width":"2560","height":"1440","caption":"Retired Engineer Switches Gears to Support Those in Hospice"},"thumbnailUrl":"https://edge.sitecorecloud.io/sutterhealt962c-sutterhealt8fce-production57cc-4860/media/Project/SutterHealth/Vitals/community-impact/Ed-Roman-2-scaled-7197ea31.jpg?h=1440&iar=0&w=2560","isPartOf":{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/#website","name":"Vitals - Sutter Health","url":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org"},"mainEntityOfPage":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice","about":[{"@type":"Thing","name":"Home health and hospice care"}],"keywords":["Caregiving and end of life"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact/retired-engineer-switches-gears-to-support-those-in-hospice#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Community impact","item":"https://vitals.sutterhealth.org/community-impact"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Retired Engineer Switches Gears To Support Those In Hospice"}]}
```